A quiet Wednesday afternoon along State Route 87 turned chaotic when a car exploded near Fountain Hills, sending a thick plume of black smoke into the air and igniting the Round Valley Fire that scorched nearby desert brush. The wildfire quickly burned roughly 30 acres, briefly shut down the highway and snarled traffic across the East Valley. Hotshot firefighters later stopped the fire’s forward progress, and crews remained on scene into the evening. Authorities have not yet said what sparked the vehicle fire or whether anyone was hurt.
According to FOX 10 Phoenix, the Arizona Department of Transportation closed SR 87 in both directions at about 3 p.m., then reopened the roadway around 5 p.m. The incident unfolded on the southbound shoulder near Fountain Hills, where passing drivers pulled out their phones and captured the blast on video. Officials said crews were still working in the area into the evening.
Video captures the blast
In a short video clip shared with local outlets, thick black smoke can be seen pouring from the vehicle moments before a fireball erupts and sends debris flying across the shoulder. As reported by KOLD, the explosion lit up vegetation along the highway and was visible to drivers who stopped to film. The footage shows the ignition point at the vehicle and helped first responders pinpoint where the flames first took off.
Crews stop fire in its tracks
Per FOX 10 Phoenix, Tonto National Forest officials said the Round Valley Fire burned about 30 acres on the southbound side of SR 87 before hotshot crews were able to halt its forward spread. SkyFOX aerial images showed a heavily burned vehicle and a stretch of scorched brush along the shoulder while firefighters worked on mop-up and containment. No evacuations were ordered, and crews focused on keeping the flames away from the roadway.
Why this roadside fire matters
Even a relatively small roadside blaze can chew through dry brush and spread fast in triple-digit heat, and human-caused ignitions are behind the vast majority of wildfires nationwide. Federal wildfire data and analysis cited by the Congressional Budget Office show that human activity, from vehicles and equipment to unattended campfires and debris burns, accounted for roughly 86% of wildfires between 2001 and 2021. Keeping vehicle fires from starting and avoiding stopping on or near dry shoulders may not sound dramatic, but it is a simple step that can prevent a scene like this one.
Officials have not publicly released information on any injuries or an official cause of the blast. Drivers who recorded the incident or who may have additional details are being asked to share that information with local authorities as investigators sift through the wreckage.
